Mechanical toy



' J: G., GAVLAK .fune 23, 1931.

MECHANICAL TOY Filed Jan.

Patented JumerZf, 1931` JosErHGfGAvLAK, or'MoNoNeAHELAoIrxrENNsYLvANIA i V My'inventionrelates toma"mechanical"toyV representative "of an automobile race, -and'i important obJects "of the', invention arev to A ture.

'MECHANICAL 'roy j y "Application sied Jmiuarr'yfsi, V'19:af sivai no. 427.4,"848.

provide a-toy of 4the character described,

whicliis attractivefandfentertaining to chil'-` i dren,` whichpin'cludes an yoperatingh mecha-j msm that may be optimally driven by either momentumy or a power motor, which em- Y Y 1 bodies novel means forzimparting intermittently addedimpetus to lthe `racing carschar acteristic of anactualautomobile race7 and which be readily `taken apartandl assembled. 'A f Further objects rofl the invention mare to f lprovide a Vdevice of the `*class .stated which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable and ,efcient .in its use, and comparatively! inexpensive to imanufacf VVitlithe foregoing Vand other objects. view whichV lwillv appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides inthe -combination land `arrangement of' parts handling the detailstof construction and'arrangement described-j and :Y claimed,V it' being understood" that` changes in the.preciseembodimentfof .the` invention hereinafter disclosed #can VVbe i madewithinV the scope Vof what isgclaimed l Figure 2 is atop *planV viewfthereof. i

without departing from*the'spiritifthe in- M Y p 4. which 1s disposed 1n 'the suspension bracket vention.

reference i y throughout Vthe Aseveral v1ews'f--- h l Figure lisa verticallyfcross. sectional view l designate corresponding parts;

oiga mechanical toyI constructed infaccordj ancefwi'th the invention.-

` Referring in detail to thlesdrawings, 1 .de-

notes a circular track member, which com-,f

prises a sheetlmetal plate providing a Vrunway forzthetravel oftheracing cars 2 and 3. TheV track :member l is, dished to simulate `an actual racetrack; andis supportedbya plurality of'legsA 1which.are iXedto; and depend fromr the peripheral edge margin thereof; i

i An opening lis formed.inftherdiametric center of the `track member lhand asuspen- VVsion'bmcket 5 straddlesfsaid opening 4 and;V

,'n Vthe drawings wherein like numeralsof lis Xed "to and depends from the under side `V `of the track member 1;'V y' A turn shaft 6 haviigfitsflower end jour-f i i naled for rotation in the suspension bracket 5,i`s disposed vertically and projects through the track memberopening 4. Alar'ge crown gear 7 is revolubly mounted on the-turn shaftl Y 6'below the'track member 1, andincl'udes` hub 8` which extends' through the opening 4.

A smallcrown gear 19;;fixedly mountedon theturnshaft 6, is disposed below inthe large crown gearf. .Af upper circular tur curedto the'top'fof'the turnL shaft" to rol tate witli"the-`-latter andma"similarlower` entreat:

.suspension bracket 5 andfinffone'of the supi portingilegswl. AThe inner end of the drive shaft 13 'carries a'fixed driving gear '14,

'nectionv` with the upperlzend h Y of the crownv 5 and meshes ,with botli'of'tl1e`-crown gears Y 7 vanc'li) to rotate the/latter simultane()usly.-V

` The racing cars 2 are joined .t0-the upper turning diskl() by long" connecting rodsl, Y

and the racing cars 3 are joined to theloxver turning diskV ll by relatively short connect- 'ving'rods 16'. By this arrangement the of travelof the cars 2. on the trackjmem ber 1,l is disposed sufficiently outwardjof the pathof travel of-thecars, so .asnottol `Vinterferewith each other.V y

The outerendoffeach of the connecting 1 rods 15 and 16 are rigidly secured tofrespec! tive racing vcars Qand 3Q The inner endporj tionofjeacli'ofqthe connecting rods lmand v16 is bent to *form* a.. vertical L-pivot 1T, and

an angularly disposedarm 18.1V The connect# ing rods 15 and 16 are pivotally and.:n de`` 10 and 1l by" extending the inner en'd'po'r-A VVtachablyfj oined to :respective turningl disks l 65 turning diskll isifixed to the topfofthe Vcrowny gearhub 8 vThe upper turning disk `A1O is spaced-.from the lowenturning disk 11-v` by a collarV 12,7 which is mounted'onthelrel duced ulgper portion Vvof thefturnr shaft. 6'. j

tions thereof downwardly through perforations 19, formed in respective turning disks l and 11, to seat the vertical pivots 17, of the connecting rods 15 and 16, in said perforations 19 and to position the angularly disposed arms 18 below respective turning disks 10 and 11.

Theperforations 19 arepspaced from the peripheral edges of respective turning disks l0 and 11, and are regularly spaced from each other in each of the latter. While but four such perforations 19 are disposed in each of the disks 10 and 11, it is evident that the number thereof may be varied to permit the connection of any corresponding number of racing cars desired I Y g Each of the connected rods 15 and 16 is associated with a pair of vertically extending control pins 2O and 21, which are fixed at the peripheral edges of respective turning disks 15 and 16 and disposed' on respective sides of the associated connecting rods 15 and 16. Each pair of control pins 20 and 21 are spaced from each other and aie disposed outwardly `with respect to the disk perforations 19. v

Each pair of control pins 20 and 21 limits the lateral movement of respective connecting rods 15 and 16 on vtheir pivots 17 in the disk perforations 19. The pins 2O are disposed on the rear'sides of connecting rods l5 and 16, and the latter extend radially to the axial centers of the turning disks and l1 when engaged by said pins 20. The pivotal connection of each of the connecting rods and 16 with the turning disks 10 and11 allows Vthe former to freely shift laterally in either direction between its asso-A ciated pair of control pins and 21,

A plurality kof vertically extending Aactuating studs 22v are iXed in the top of 4the lower turning disk 11, and a plurality of similar vertically extending actuating studs 23 are fixed in the top of the track member 1. rlhe disk studs 22 are positionedpto engage the inner ends of the arms 18 ofthe long connecting rods 15, and the track member studs 23 are disposed to engage the inner ends of the arms 18 of the short connesting rods 16.

The engagement and operation of the driving gear 14 with the lower small crown gear 9 will rotate the turn shaft 6 and thereby impart rotation to the upper turning disk 10 fixed to the upper end of the latter. Such rotation of. the upper` turning disk 10 will cause the travel ofthe racing cars 2 around on the track member l, as the cars 2 are joined to the turning disk 10 by the long connecting rods 15.-

The engagement and. operation of the driving gear 14 with the upper large crown gear 7 will rotate the lower turning disk 11, as the latter is -iXed to the upper end of the hub 8, ofsaid crown gear 7u The rotation of the lower turning disk 11 will cause the travel of the racing cars 3, as the latter are joined thereto by the short connecting rods 16.

As the lower crown gear 9 is smaller than f the upper crown gear 7 the speed of the upper turning disk 10, associated with said small crown gear 9, will be greater than the speed of theturning disk 11, which is associated with said large crown gear 7, and accordingly, the racingcars 2 will travel faster than the racing cars 3.

During the operation of the device, the connecting rods 15 andv 16 are normally maintained in radial alignment to the axial centers of respective turning disks 7 and 9, by their engagement withthe rear control pins 20, as the latter prevent any further rearward movement thereof. However, when the inner ends of the rod arms 13` strike or engage the actuating studs 23, fixed in the lower disk 11V andv trackV member 1, respectively, the connecting rods 15 and 16 will be forced forwardly, on their pivots 18, until the ends of said arms 18 clearthe Vactuating studs 23 or to a distance limited by the positions of the forwardly disposed control pins 21. This feature of the invention will impart intermittent spurts of speed to the already travelling cars 2 andl 3 and effect realistic simulation of automobile racincr.

tilly improved toy. may be driven b y a spring motor 24, which is suspended 1n a bracketv25 i'iXed to the under side of thel track member 1. The motor 24 includes a gear 26, which meshes with a gear 27 loosely mounted on the drive shaft 13. rlhe gear 27 is provided with a suitable clutch element 28, so that the former may operate the drive shaft 13, or turn idly thereon to permit the rewinding of the spring motor 24.

A fly wheel 29 is tixedon the drive shaft 13, intermediate of the brackets 5 and 25, for stabilizingV the operation of the device. Ifdesired, the toy may be opera-ted independently of the'motor 24, by spinning the iiy wheel 29 to create sucient momentum for temporarily driving the device. The drive shaft 13 is provided with an extension 30, which is adapted for the reception of a crank 31 for spinning the fly wheel 29 vfor the purpose set forth. The motor 24 includes a shaft 32 having anextension 33 likewise adapted for the'reception of the same crank for `rewinding the spring motor 24.

' A figure 34, representative of a lagman, is suitably mounted at oneiside of the track member 1. The :figure 34 includes a pivoted arm 35 and flag 36. The arm 35 is operated to alternately elevatejand lower the Hag 36, by a suitably journaled crank mechanism 37, which extends through a slot 38 formed in the path of travely of theA racing cars 2. Each time a car 2engages the crank mechanism 37, while passing over the slot 38, the

ligure 34:l willbe actuated to elevate and lower. :the flagi.

A radiallyextending line A39 is painted on the track member I to permit the determination of a winner, especially'if the Vdevice is operated by momentum through the operation of the fly wheel 29 in the" manner stated. Y Y Y It will here-be noted that the control pins and 21 and `the-actuatingstuds 23 may be, desired, `stamped directly from the 1 parts by which they are carried; Further,

the device maybe driven by an electric mojtor or any other suitable power unit besides thoseset forth in the embodiment herein dis- Y closed. Itis also apparent that the principle ofthe invention may be successfully employed on any type of racing toy regardless of Whether `the same be representative of races embodying automobiles, men, horses, dogs,and the like.`

`'Ihepresent invention is, of course, ap-

propriatelycolored, and provides a Asubstantial toy which may be economically manufactured, .and which is full .of action and y therefore very entertaining for children. Y 'What I claim is:

1. In a mechanical racing toy of the character described, atrack member,a turning disk revolubly mounted on said track member, racing elements, and means pivotally connected with said turning disk and joined with said racing elements. y Y

2. Inamechanical racing toyof the character described, a track member, a turning -disk revolubly mounted on said track member, a plurality of racing elements, and connecting rods having pivotal connections with said turning disk and being oined with said racing elements.

3. In a mechanical racing toy of the character described, a track member, a-turning. disk i'evolubly mounted onsaid track meinber, a plurality of racing elements, connect- -ing rods having pivotal connections with said turning disk and being joined with said racing elements, andmeans for limiting the movements of said .connecting rods on said pivotal connections. I, i p

4. Ina mechanical racing toy of the` character described, a track member, a turning i" `diskrevolubly mounted on said track member,"aplurality of racing elements,V connecting rods having pivotal connections with said turning disk and being joined withV said racing elements, and means intermittently engaging the inner ends ofV said connecting "rods for shifting the Ylatter forwardly on their said pivotal connections.v p n 5. In a mechanical racing toy of the character described-a track member, apair of Vturnii'ig disk`s`mounted on said track member, aplurality of connecting rods eachv liaving pivotal connections with one of said 4turning disks, a 'racing element `carriedwat the outerend of each-of said connecti-ng'rods and `travelling ongsaid track member,v and a driving mechanism foi-simultaneously ro,l tating saidpair of turning disksj t w '6 Ina mechanical racing toy of the characterV described, a track member, a pairjof` turning disks mounted on l'said track member, a plurality of'connecting rods each having pivotal connections with one of; said turning disksfaracing element carried fat the outerv end of eachof-xsaid connecting rods and travellingV .on-said track member,

'and'adriving mechanism for 's imultaneouslv rotating said pair of Vturning disks at different speeds relativelyto each other.v .y 1" 7. In a mechanicalracing toy ofthe character described, a trackfmember, a' pair of vturning disks mounted on said track mema ber, a pluralityof connectingiodseachhaving. pivotal connections with, oneof said turning disks, a `racing element carried at theouter end Vof each of said connecting rodsf and travelling on said track member,` a drivingfinechanismV for simultaneously rotatingsaid pair of turning disks at different Y speeds relatively to each other, and means carried by each of said pair of turning disks for limiting the movements of said connecting rods on said pivotal connections.

. 8. In a mechanical racing toy of the characterdescribed, a track member, a pair Vof turning disks mounted on said track Ymember, a plurality of connecting rods each having pivotal connections with one ofv said turning disks, a racing element carried atV the outer end of each'of said connecting rods and travelling on said track member, a driving mechanism for simultaneouslyfrotating said pair of turning disks at different speeds relatively to each other, and means for intermittently engaging the innerends of said connecting rods for shifting thelatter forwardly on their said pivotal connections.

acter described, a track member, a pair of turning disks mounted onsaid track mem- 9. In a mechanical racing toy ofthe charp ber, a pluralityiof connecting rods'each having pivotal connectionsl with one of 'Y said turning disks, a racing element carried at the outer'end of each 'of said connecting rods and travellingon said track member, a driv- Y ing mechanism for simultaneously rotating said pair of turning disks at different speeds relatively to each other, means carried by each of saidpair yof turning disks for limit iao Y f ber,u apluralityof connecting rods eachliaving pivotal connections with one of said turning disks, a `racing element carried at the outer end of each of said connecting rods and travelling on said track member, a driving mechanism for simultaneously rotating said pair of turning disks at dierent speeds relatively to each other, means carried by each of said pair of turning disks for limiting the movementsof Ysaid connecting rods on said pivotal connections,and means carried by one of said pair of turning disks and by said track member for intermittently engaging the inner ends of said connecting rods for shifting the latter forwardly on their said pivotal connections.

In testimony whereof I aliiX my signature.

JOSEPH G. GAVLAK. 

